Has anyone heard of a medical waiver being passed through Cadet Command for Eosinophilic Esophagitis?

2023-02-02T10:33:16-05:00

I am a senior in Army ROTC. In September 2022, I sent in a request for a medical waiver for Eosinophilic Esophagitis. I was taking a swallowed steroid at the time. My waiver just came back, and it was disapproved. I have limited time to let them know if I would like them to reconsider or just to accept a disenrollment. I was supposed to be going into the Armor Branch and commissioning May 2023. I want to ask them to reconsider. But after doing some research, it does not seem like anyone with EoE has been approved for a medical waiver. If anyone has any experience with this or knows someone that does, it would help greatly.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2023 1:10 PM

2023-02-02T13:10:42-05:00

I had to get a ridiculous amount of waivers signed to commission. I think it was about 7. I think one of them was medical, regarding some conditions gained during enlisted time, can't recall in detail.

I have a very limited knowledge of the medical world, but I will tell you to search your heart for what you want. Do you want to serve as an officer in the U.S. Army? If yes, then ask for a reconsideration and do all that you can medically to ensure you are fit and capable of doing so. Convince the Army they should take you. Medical waivers may seem like a black and white process, but I can't tell you how many times I have been told something is black and white and it's a either a clear yes or no according to clear policies written in stone, only to find out that once I tackled the issue there was a whole lot of grey area that could be worked with, within mature and intelligent limits.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2023 1:13 PM

2023-02-02T13:13:21-05:00

History of Eosinophilic Esophagitis is a PDQ per DoDI (Department of Defense Instructions) 6130.03. If you look up that DoDI, you will find it in Section 6.12 , Subsection a4. That's why your waiver came back denied. Honestly, I'm surprised the waiver request was even sent up.

Response by COL Randall C. made Feb 2 at 2023 1:27 PM

2023-02-02T13:27:38-05:00

I've never heard of a waiver being granted for EoE because it's one of those "can't be cured, only mitigated" type of diseases. I've known a few with EoE in the military, but that's because the "get in the military medical standards" are tougher than the "remain in the military medical standards".

DoD states that the standards* are to ensure that individuals considered for appointment, enlistment, or induction into the Military Services are:
(1) Free of contagious diseases that may endanger the health of other personnel.
(2) Free of medical conditions or physical defects that may reasonably be expected to require excessive time lost from duty for necessary treatment or hospitalization, or may result in separation from the Military Service for medical unfitness.
(3) Medically capable of satisfactorily completing required training and initial period of contracted service.
(4) Medically adaptable to the military environment without geographical area limitations.
(5) Medically capable of performing duties without aggravating existing physical defects or medical conditions.

Specific to you, your best bet is if you can submit evidence mitigating #2 and #4 either because you know what sets off your EoE (i.e., you have a food allergy to shellfish which heightens your gastric response, etc) and can easily avoid it, have it easily under control with common medication available worldwide, that not having that medication available for an extended period of time won't cause an issue, etc.

I'm not saying that your waiver will be approved if you do all this, just that it will be your best shot at getting one approved. You need to give a 'warm fuzzy' to the waiver authority that YOU should be granted a waiver because YOU'RE not going to be an issue with any of the above categories.
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* DoDI 6130.03-V1, March 30, 2018

Response by SGM Tere Moore made Feb 2 at 2023 2:39 PM

2023-02-02T14:39:08-05:00

As a former HRT in an ROTC program, immediately tell the PMS that Yes you want the Cmd Surgeon to reconsider the application for "Medical Determination" which is the terminology if you are a contracted cadet- versus not yet enlisted-and signed a DD4 Enlistment Contract. Tell him/her you will get a second opinion from a Dr. specializing in Internal Medicine and re-apply as soon as you can. You might get a Dr. appt BEFORE talking w/the PMS so you can 1) show you're on top of the situation & 2) that it will be taken care of expeditiously. Do that now & I'll draft more information for you. By the way, what school are you attending?

Response by SGM Tere Moore made Feb 2 at 2023 8:58 PM

2023-02-02T20:58:45-05:00

Here’s what I recommend:

Get a 2nd opinion from an Internal Medicine Dr. or at least a specialist, someone who is not a General Practitioner or Family Medicine doctor. Take a copy of your DODMERB physical and the Army’s medical questionnaire / medical history form you completed prior to the DODMERB physical to this appointment. If the previous waiver request included an explanation, it might be good to take a copy of that with you. Along with a copy of all the medical notes & lab results the Dr. has, be sure to get a letter from him/her stating that they feel the condition is manageable, that you can self-manage your symptoms and from how he/she understands the condition, it should not hinder you fulfilling the physical demands of the Army.

It would be good for you to also write a letter to the Command Surgeon yourself to include in your second request stating that you have not had any symptoms of the disease for a stated number of years… or at all if that’s the case. Here’s an example:” I have not had an occurrence of GERD for five years.” (I looked at WebMD on the internet to learn about your diagnosis.)

It would be wise to ask the HRT/HRA why it is considered a waiver and not a Medical Determination. I remember that a Medical Determination is used to decide if a condition/disease or injury that was diagnosed After enlisting in ROTC, medically disqualifies a cadet from commissioning. A “waiver” was the tool used during the process of applying for ROTC & prior to enlisting in ROTC. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT if you are attending on an Army scholarship. If a medical determination is denied, you would not have to repay the Army all the money spent for your tuition or room & board, book allowance money paid to you & required fees paid on your behalf. If they submit a Waiver… I believe you’d have to repay that money. Another reason for a second look! And it’s definitely worth all the time and effort you’ve so far spent on your education and Army training.

Wow! I now feel emotionally invested in your path. The points COL Cudworth brought up in his 3rd paragraph are valid & ones you should think about. Let me know how it all works out. I’ll hope for the best and a positive outcome!